China will introduce a 30-day visa-free entry policy for Russian citizens holding ordinary passports, covering trips for business, sightseeing, family reunions, cultural exchanges, or just passing through.
It will take effect on September 15, 2025, and remain in place through September 14, 2026.
The announcement came at Tuesday’s Foreign Ministry press briefing in Beijing, where spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the move is aimed at making cross‑border travel smoother and boosting people‑to‑people ties.
This is a serious upgrade from the current 144‑hour visa‑free transit Russians can enjoy in select Chinese cities—think of it as going from a long weekend to a full‑blown month of dumplings, high‑speed trains, and night markets.
The Numbers Tell the Story
In 2024, 1.04 million mainland Chinese tourists headed to Russia as their first stop, up a staggering 209.3% from the year before.
China welcomed 1.50 million Russian visitors in 2024, a 115.1% jump year‑on‑year.
From late October 2024 to the end of January 2025, there were over 4,600 scheduled flights between China and Russia, averaging more than 380 flights a week.
In 2024, China–Russia trade reached US$244.8 billion, a 1.9% increase from 2023.
China has been Russia’s top trading partner for 15 years straight, and over 95% of that trade is now settled in local currencies.
Part of a Bigger Picture
As of September 2, China has granted unilateral or mutual visa‑free access to 76 countries.
This is a clear indication that the country is embracing easier travel and broader global connections.
A 30‑day visa‑free window for Russians is a green light for deeper cultural, business, and personal connections.
Expect more Russian tourists in your favorite hotpot spot, more Chinese shoppers in Vladivostok, and a busier calendar of joint events from art shows to trade expos.
READ MORE: China Visa-Free Entry Countries – The Full List!
[Cover image by Billy Jiang/That's]
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